Ex BJD MLA Bhagirathi Sethi among 50 leaders join Odisha BJP

Former Anandpur BJD MLA Bhagirathi Sethi was among a host of leaders from other parties who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a function organised by the party at its Odisha headquarters here.

Former BJD MLA from Anandpur Bhagirathi Sethi being welcomed into the BJP by party leaders on Saturday(Pic: Biswaranjan Mishra)

Congress leader of Jagatsinghpur district Satyabrata Mohapatra, Dr Basanta Kumar Choudhury, Congress leader N Prakash Reddy from Rayagada, Nirmal Chandra Swain of Paradeep, Baikuntha Pradhan of Khordha, BJD district student wing president Pruthviraj Dalbehera of Nayagarh, youth leader Tuku Patra were among the more than 50 leaders from BJD, Congress and other parties who joined the BJP here today with their supporters.

Sethi, who had failed to get party ticket in the Assembly Election 2014 to fight for his constituency, was unhappy over the BJD’s activities in Keonjhar district.

He had filed his nominations as a rebel candidate from the same seat, but later withdrew his papers after being persuaded by the BJD. The party had fielded Mayadhar Jena as the BJD candidate in his place.

“I was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership and dedication of hundred of party members in National and State level. The BJD has become a party of scamsters. I fell from grace because I opposed the activities of mine looters and raised the issue of Rule 37 in the Assembly,” Sethi said after joining the BJP.

Addressing the newly inducted members in the party Arun Singh said party workers would intensify the membership drive across the state in the coming days and meet the target of roping in 30, 00,000 new members in Odisha.

“The BJP would come to the power in 2019 with a huge majority,” he predicted.

BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra said Congress party is in a shambles and would soon become irrelevant in the state while the BJD would face a severe crisis in the partyMohapatra said BJP national president will come to Odisha on a two-day visit beginning January 6.. Shah will be in the state on January 6 and 7.